Actual Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has made his debut on the Membership World Cup.
Anadolu through Getty PicturesXabi Alonso’s return to Actual Madrid has began in high-stakes circumstances because the Spaniard took over as coach simply in time for the membership’s marketing campaign on the FIFA Membership World Cup, held in america this summer season.
Los Blancos are on observe to qualify for the knock-out levels after securing a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal and a 3-1 win over Mexican group Pachuca. It has been the primary alternative that Madridistas stateside and throughout the glob have had an opportunity to see what system, techniques and magnificence Alonso has dropped at the membership since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
Stats from Xabi Alonso’s begin to life at Actual Madrid
The numbers don’t lie, and whereas Xabi Alonso might solely have had a handful of coaching classes together with his gamers, it’s been gradual progress for the Basque coach as he implements his methodology. Talking forward of the sport in opposition to Pachuca, Alonso mirrored that, “typically wanting to take action a lot so rapidly is counterproductive”, earlier than insisting that “prioritizing is essential”
The second-lowest variety of photographs in a brand new coach’s begins within the final 16 years
In response to knowledge from Opta, Actual Madrid tried a measly 27 photographs of their two matches with Xabi Alonso, which is their second lowest quantity for the primary two video games of a brand new coach within the final 16 years, solely overwhelmed by Julen Lopetegui and his short-lived reign when he began with 24 photographs in two video games in 2018.
Main the best way with essentially the most photographs on six every are teenager Gonzalo García, a shock inclusion in Alonso’s first line-up, and midfielder Fede Valverde, together with a missed penalty in damage time in opposition to Al Hilal.
There’s a fairly logical rationalization behind such a stat. Star striker Kylian Mbappé was struck down by sickness with gastroenteritis earlier than the primary recreation of the competitors, and remains to be sidelined and received’t be risked in opposition to RB Salzburg on Thursday night time in Philadelphia. It should even be remembered that the circumstances of Alonso’s first two recreation spits him in opposition to a few of the finest groups from throughout the globe, versus season-opening league fixtures in opposition to home rivals.
1.85 xG conceded per 90, a 59% improve
On the different finish of the pitch, it hasn’t all been plain crusing for Alonso’s gamers both. Al Hilal and Pachuca have each threatened the Actual Madrid aim, testing shotstopper Thibaut Courtois who recovered from an end-of-season damage as a way to begin in opposition to the Saudi group.
In 180 minutes, the group has conceded 3.7 xG (anticipated targets), understanding at 1.85 xG per 90 minutes. That’s in comparison with a median of 1.16 xG per 90 in La Liga in 2024/25 beneath earlier coach Carlo Ancelotti. In actual fact, Actual Madrid had solely conceded greater than 1.85 xG 4 instances within the earlier 36 matches within the 2025 calendar 12 months earlier than Xabi Alonso’s arrival.
Once more right here, there are some mitigating circumstances. Alonso has given debuts to summer season signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, each becoming a member of from Premier League golf equipment in Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively. Actual Madrid has additionally conceded a penalty, in opposition to Al Hilal, price 0.75 xG, and been pressured to play with solely 10 males for 83 minutes in opposition to Pachuca, after two expensive Raúl Asencio errors.
